Happy Birthday GG

My beautiful, sweet Grandmother, GG (to Luz and James), celebrated her 85th birthday this week!  Today was an extra-special celebration with family and friends at Barcelona restaurant.  We enjoyed sangria, tapas and paella (prepared in the largest paella dish I have ever seen), followed by some flamenco dancing and beautiful Spanish guitar.  It was the perfect way to enjoy such a special birthday.

The gorgeous birthday girl:

Flamenco dancing:

"85" Picture project:

The hosts, ready to celebrate:

Luz and James stayed at home with a babysitter during the party but wanted a little GG time as well, so we stopped by this afternoon to visit.  As usual, they could not keep their hands off of the treasures:

Happy Birthday GG...we LOVE you!

Stuff I'd Like To Remember

Things have been incredibly busy around here.  The honeymoon is over and my not-so-new-anymore job is much busier than I anticipated - which is good and bad.  On top of that, Christian was out of town for 4 days attending a conference and James decided to become obsessed with him on the day he left NOLA.  So, the weekend was spent with lots of tears and complaining and 'looking' for daddy.

There were a few moments of loveliness and humor though - Friday night dinner outside of Whole Foods with Katie and MCB enjoying the most perfect weather ever, an attempt at the muddy Hogs for the Cause on Sunday, lots of park time, a few runs with the old jog stroller (probably the last 2 times I will ever use that thing - at least with James as the passenger), and a delicious Sunday "linner" with mom-mom at Superior Seafood - the pomegranate mojito did not hit me until after the leisurely walk home, fortunately)...and this was another lovely moment, 2 quiet minutes first thing Saturday morning when James engaged in one of his current favorite pastimes, counting chimneys and imagining what is going on in all of those other houses:

Parenting F Minus

Remember this movie :

Of course you do.  Well, I do.  It was one of my favorite movies as a kid.  I remember wishing that one day I would find myself with a similar motley but ever-so-lovable crew, spelunking our way to a hidden treasure protected by crazy booby-traps.  To me, the movie was always part adventure, part daydream, part love story, mixed with just the perfect amount of drama.  But, it is a movie for older kids, Mama is way too scary for 6 year-olds, and Sloth, forget about it.  So, you can imagine my surprise when I came home late from work the other night and found Christian and the kids sacked out on the sofa watching Goonies.* Even better still, you can imagine my surprise when they begged to watch it again tonight.  And even better yet again, you can imagine my surprise (and horror and concern) when Luz told me that her favorite part in the movie is when Chunk says "Captain Chunk says, 'let's get the hell out of here'" and proceeded to repeat it over and over again, cracking herself up.

Good grief.  This all happened about 5 years too early and to add insult to injury, it is the first movie that James has ever sat through from start to finish.  It is a parenting F minus for sure, but at least it is one I can blame 100% on Christian's poor judgment.

* It allegedly came in some bonus pack when he bought The Wizard of Oz for the kids last summer.   

Toothless

I know it did not exactly happen over night, but it sure feels like it did.  All of the sudden I am a mom of a girl who is old enough to have no front teeth.  It does not seem possible because I still feel like I am playing house and that I am pretending to be an attorney when I put on a suit and go to court, like the kid in the Frosted Mini Wheats commercial.  I am sure that at any moment they will clue in and warn me that the jig is up, that it is time to go back to being a foolish child who knows nothing and gets by on smiles and luck.

Please tell me I am not the only adult, the only mama, the only lawyer who feels this way...anyone?

Lucy, 6 years 9 months, toothless.

Luck O The Not So Irish

I think I am one of the few New Orleanians who is not the least bit Irish.  That is to say, I do not think I am Irish at all.  It does not really matter though, because on March 17th we are all Irish, at least that is what "they" say.

Here are a few pictures of the kiddos and Christian pretending to be Irish on Saturday.  Sadly, we missed out on the bars of Irish Spring and heads of cabbage:

I Think It Might Be Summertime

We spent the weekend outside, the a/c is running, and I broke I sweat walking to my car earlier today.  Is it  the end of the cool weather?  Is it the start of summer already?  I did not have to wear a heavy coat once this entire winter.  I have so many turtlenecks I wanted to wear just one more time before the 80 degree weather arrived.  I would like just one more night out in tall boots and the thought of sorting through the clothes and discovering that the kids do not fit in any of the summer clothes from last year is overwhelming (it took 15 minutes to find something for James to wear this morning).  Alas, I think it is time to dust off the flip flops and look for some new shorts.  Some people around here could not be happier about it:

Luz, setting up shop with her "guys" on the front porch, enjoying the gorgeous, warm weather:

and James, in a too-tiny t-shirt, waiting for his cousins at the Audubon Zoo:

What is it about my kids?  They have a love of figurines that is out of control.  Sure, I enjoyed playing with Strawberry Shortcake dolls when I was little, but these guys are obsessive.  They tote them around, take them on errands, play with them all over the house, and are entertained for hours on end.  You can see James' Star Wars "guys" set up on the bricks in front of the bench in the middle of the zoo.

The Voice

Have any of you been watching this?

I know, the Vaicius family is late to the game and only recently started watching it.  We are hooked though, totally hooked.  I love that the kids get so wrapped up in the contestants and the different teams.  I love learning about artists I knew nothing about.  I have never listened to any of the judges' music (other than one or two here and there on the radio or when shopping at the Gap) but I am starting to appreciate and even like all of them.  It takes two nights for us to get through one episode (because of homework and baths and reasonable bedtimes) and the kids look forward to it every week. We have never watched American Idol or any of the dance shows or talent shows or the Bachelor or Big Brother, and the closest we get to reality tv is the occasional episode of Americas Funniest Home Videos (alright, ok, we watch Survivor and Amazing Race...but those don't really count, right).  Anyway, I am sort of embarrassed and totally cool with it all at once.  You should check it out.

Palmer Park

If you live in NOLA and have not spent some time in Palmer Park recently, I highly recommend it.  I am a total sucker for a good fair/fest so I head over there, usually with both kids in tow, for the monthly market.  I do not usually buy anything, although I LOVE to browse, but most of the time I bribe the kids with a Nutella crepe or a bag of kettle corn. They are easy.   Last month, James and I were entertained by some incredible local opera singers while we shared a crepe.

The biggest draw for the kids, however, is the recently-renovated playground.  It is spacious, safe and totally entertaining for kids of all ages.  My guys particularly enjoy the scavenger hunt.  I think they would be happy to join me for a trip to the arts market without a bribe as long as I allowed for an hour of play time.  Next time you are in the neighborhood or just looking for a way to enjoy a nice spring day in NOLA, head over there.  You will not be disappointed.

A Little More Mardi Gras

Here are a few more pictures from Mardi Gras 2012, most notably a couple from Papa-T's "bucket list" ride in Tucks:

Super Fabulous Super Saints

My friend, Jen, dresses her entire family in a particular theme each Mardi Gras and was sweet enough to include Luz and James in the choice for 2012, Super Saints.  They were both thrilled when they saw their Super Saint t's and James would probably wear his every day if I allowed it.

Here is Luz on Mardi Gras day with her favorite Nyx catch, a second line, Saints-themed umbrella:

And with Uncle Richmond...he is in costume, dressed as someone from a zombie t.v. show or movie (which I am too out of touch with to recognize, ugh):

I know, I am still posting Mardi Gras pictures!  And there are more, yes, plenty... Papa-T rode in a parade this year so there is so much to share.  Unfortunately, I was out of town for most of last week for work (and managed to fit in a quick stop in Downtown Disney World, which was really cool, incidentally) and then I ran 26.2 miles yesterday (and, consequently, can barely walk today).   At any rate, as is usually the case, things are way too busy around here.  So, I am taking deep breaths, slowing down as much as possible (and with my current physical limitations it is rather possible), and remembering to enjoy a few quiet minutes with the kids at the end of the day (even if those minutes involve being climbed on and shouted at - so goes the life of a mama).

It is a perfect Sunday night...a little rainy, comfy p.j.s, house mostly organized and ready for the start of the week and a three-day work trip, and the Oscars are on.  I allowed Luz to stay up a little past her bedtime because she was so enthusiastic about it.  She was inspired and awed and reacted exactly like I did as a child, imagining herself there one day. She was also incredibly confused about why Hugo was winning so many awards (neither of us has seen it yet, but now we are curious).  I love watching the Academy Awards.  I look forward to it every year and am thrilled that Luz enjoys it too.  I will have someone to watch it with now.

We had a nice, relaxing weekend filled with the mundane things that have to happen at the end of a long vacation.  There were a few trips to the park (Luz's newest obsession is dribbling and the incessant bouncing noise inside of the house makes me nuts; James' newest obsession is pretending he is in a marching band - he plays all the parts with gusto - one of these days I will get it on film, that activity, though incredibly entertaining, also makes me nuts),  a new haircut for James, soccer, READ class, one last longish run to prep for the marathon, and cooking (meatballs with  tomato sauce and patatas bravas with two different sauces - neither of which were great, except the aioli - try as I might, I just never get it totally right in the kitchen).

All in all it was lovely weekend that went by way too fast.  It is hard to believe how different things looked just a week ago:

I miss the endless fun, but getting back to the daily grind is ok too.  Now we just need to think of what we should be giving up for Lent.  Nobody around here is ready to commit to anything yet...we want to be good and sure we pick something significant.

Ash Wednesday

We are enjoying some quiet time, getting things back in shape around here at the house, and basking in the fabulous Mardi Gras afterglow.  It was a lovely couple of weeks and we were so fortunate to have plenty of time to spend with family and friends.  It is back to reality, for sure, and with that comes a bit of post-holiday depression for me.  After all, who would not enjoy an excuse to spend days and nights hanging out with family and friends, drinking beer and watching the greatest free show on earth.  I look around the house and smile when all around me I see evidence of a rather good time...

The Joints Are Jamming Packed

The rain was intense tonight but Luz and Christian refuse to miss out on a single float.  James and I were little soldiers and tried to make it through the second parade, but we just could not do it, there were not enough Skittles to bribe his tired 3 year-old body.  I was happy to head home with him and to miss the deluge.  He is excited though, we all are.  Friends and family are in town.  We have an excuse to stay up late and eat bbq and Zapp's potato chips and drink beer and wine (and king cake flavored vodka) long after bedtime.  And it feels nice.  If you have never experienced Mardi Gras in NOLA, you need to do it as soon as possible.  It is exhausting, but it is the best.

The Whole Street Is Jumping

Carnival season is in full swing here in NOLA and, consequently, there is not much leisure time around here.  Luz and Christian are in full parade-going mode and will not miss a single float.  James and I are still warming up and require bribes to get out there for every parade (Abita beer in a can for me, cotton candy for James).  I was even less motivated on Sunday after a long training run and a nasty wipe out mid-way through it (my knees are swollen and bruised and totally achey - my fingers are crossed that rest, ice, and IBP will get them back to normal by Wednesday).

We are looking forward to a chaotic week and a house filled with friends and family. Unfortunately, the house work is not complete.  I was hoping to have it freshly painted and nicely decorated in time for the weekend, but it has been so rainy that everything is behind schedule.  Overall, even with just a coat of primer, it is a huge improvement.  The addition of the transom numbers on Friday night made a big difference too.  Incidentally, if you are looking for someone in New Orleans to put your house numbers on your transom, check out www.nolatransoms.com.  The guys there were very helpful and did a great job.  I will take a picture of the handiwork soon so you can see for yourself.

Oh, and tomorrow is Valentine's Day...I know, it is a silly holiday, but having children makes even silly holidays more fun.  There is something to be said about spending one day out of the year thinking about the people that make your heart full, right?

King Cake Taste Testing

Luz got the king cake baby last week so tomorrow it is her turn to bring the cake.  I saw the old timey Gambinos sign while cruising around in Metairie last week, as I tend to do now that I work out there, and I started to feel nostalgic.  So, I stopped by today and picked up a Gambinos king cake for Luz, one for Christian to take to his homeroom, and a one for me to eat this weekend (I plan to run a bunch of miles and will need a good reward).  

I am not wild about the packaging (something about all the plastic makes it look less appealing) but the sugar to bread ratio looks about right.  I got a traditional one, as usual, and it looks like it has cinnamon on the inside.  I am looking forward to trying it and am curious to see if it rivals my current front-runner, Haydel's.  I will let you know...

R. E. A. D.

For the past six months James and I have spent a peaceful hour together on Saturday mornings at R.E.A.D. The weekly, hour-long class focuses on reading enrichment and development through movement, music, art, and creative play.  I wish I had known about the program when Luz was little because I know she would have enjoyed it.  James looks forward to Saturday mornings and I do too - not just for what it provides him - but because I like the one-on-one time together.  At the end of each class the kids can check out a backpack that centers around a book(s) or a theme.  Last week we had 10 Little Monkeys. This week we have a zoo themed backpack.  The socialization and the learning that happens on Saturday mornings at R.E.A.D. are worth every penny of the cost.  He might not know his colors, but he can sit still for and appreciate a good story.  Let's see if this increases his chances of getting into our Nursery school choice next Fall...truly, nothing is automatic in the world of education these days.

I highly recommend the class for anyone in the NOLA area with a little one looking for some interaction with other kids and enrichment.  There are classes during the week and I know we would go more frequently if I did not have to work.  You can check out the R.E.A.D. website at www.readnola.com.  Oh yeah, and if you sign up for a class, you get a cool shirt like this one:

The weekend was filled with all kinds of awesomeness -

1.  Our first Mardi Gras parade of the season (and the only reason it did not rain on us was because I carried around a gigantic, golfing umbrella all night);
2.  Excellent dinner at Iris with friends;
3.  Sleeping as late as we wanted this morning since the kids spent the night at mom-mom's house;
4.  The last piece of Ikea furniture assembled;
5.  A major excursion to Kenner Target to stock up on more Mardi Gras supplies (do not be jealous - there was not a stitch of Jason Wu clothing on the shelves); and
6.  A LONG training run out of the way...I have one more really long one and then I think I can start to taper, finally.

The bad news is that I think I now officially have either allergies or a cold, so I am going to sleep.  But first, a little more awesomeness, because you do not have a heart if this does not make you smile :

She went to see The Blue Man Group today with Christian (thanks to mom-mom) and she LOVED it. It was entertaining to listen to her recount what happened and to attempt to explain it.  I gathered that she was trying to think of a diplomatic way to say "you had to be there"... which makes total sense.

And if you have not seen The Steven Gleason Story, watch it here -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSS10h0BKig

It will break your heart all over the place.  I have said it before and I will say it again and again and again, life is fleeting and filled with joy and sadness all of the time.

Sneak Peek

Just in case you are as excited as I am to finally see a fresh coat of paint on my house...

It is just primer, but if you look very closely you can see two variations of what will ultimately be the house color.  Christian - who, I have recently learned, is actually profoundly color-blind, cannot even detect the two shaded areas. The shutter color is close, not quite right yet, but getting there.  Now, if it would just stop raining...

NOLA CBD

As soon as I packed up my office on the 40th floor of One Shell Square and moved out to the suburbs, super-awesome things started happening downtown.  Many things were in the works long before I made the switch, but seeing (and - occasionally - experiencing) these incredible changes makes me miss being in the CBD.

There is the beautiful Merchant in the old, and recently renovated, Maritime building on Gravier St.:

This place is a little oasis in the middle of downtown NOLA, a perfect blend of cool and delicious.  Although pretty much everything on the menu is tasty and the crepes look fantastic (I have not indulged...yet), my favorite treat is just a classic iced-coffee, expertly blended with fresh roasted Illy coffee.  It is the perfect pick me up and my new favorite iced-coffee destination.  If you are curious, peruse the menu, it does not disappoint : www.merchantneworleans.com

Another new discovery is City Greens.  Someone just like me ate one too many Subway sandwiches ( over 10 years I probably ate at least 1,000 6 inch, whole wheat, veggie and cheese sandwiches) and then thought, "I can do better than this".  City Greens is a modern, impeccably clean, incredibly fresh, express-service salad bar with interesting ingredients, signature salads, and a build-your-own option.  I cannot wait to go there again and again and again.  Thank you, thank you to the person who was just like me.  Now, will you please open one in Metairie?  Oh, and some of my friends would like you to carry Diet Coke.  Go see for yourself at www.eatcitygreens.com

Those are the two places that stand out most because I have experienced the wonder.  There are two additional recent destinations I am looking forward to checking out.

There is a truly urban grocery store, courtesy of Rouses, which opened the week I moved to the suburbs and I almost cried.  I cannot tell you how many times I wished there was an easy in-and-out grocery store I could stop at on my way home from work or during my lunch break. Now it exists, only it is no longer useful to me.

There is one last gem...the newly restored (and seemingly totally rebuilt) Hyatt.  It is beautiful and, at least according to my friends, does not disappoint.  I am hoping that my first Hyatt experience will be next month for Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation Gala.  Tickets start at $1,000.00 and I am hoping someone might need a date.  You can check it out at www.nighttomakeitright.com.